Starship showcase Venator class Star Destoyer
I'm going to state this right from the get go. The Venator is my favorite capitol ship in Star Wars. I know its not as iconic as the Imperator or as awesome as an Executor but I like the general lines fo the ship as well as I like that its as close to a canonical dedicated carrier we see the Republic/Empire actually have in a universe where practically every engagements out come is decided by fighter craft. This is going to be my take on a true fleet doctrine where the Venator is used and a reworking of its history to fit in my personal canon.
The Venator class star destroyer was the workhorse of the Republic fleet but lost popularity in the new Imperial era. However as the Galactic Civil war became hot and old Imperial fleet doctrine was forced to counter rebel forces who were able to win many engagements due to superior fighter craft and tactics. Ironically many rebel fleet admirals were following old Republic battle doctrine which the Venator was so heavily used.
For general statistics the Venator class star destroyer is a Kuat Drive Yards design running 1155 meters in length. They are medium sized destroyers sporting an offensive armament of eight dual heavy turbolaser batteries, two dual medium turbolaser turrets, and 52 point defense laser cannons. Venators also sported 4 capitol grade torpedo tubes. For extra punch some Venators were modified with a SPHA field artillery gun mounted in the ventral hangar bay and plugged directly into the main reactor for an especially powerful ventral weapon. Venators sported a complement of 420 strike craft and numerous shuttles, transports, and drop ships as well as enough walkers and ground equipment to support a regiment of 2000 Troopers. These venerable vessels were originally fairly lean on crew with a complement of 7400 officers and enlisted ratings many being devoted to the strike wing. This is due to the quality of the clone crews and a heavy use of droids. Later Imperial ships would become far more reliant on non clone crews and a distrust of droids meant less automation causing far larger crews being required to run them at a similar combat effectiveness.
The Venators history goes back to the preclone wars era where the initial plans for a multi faceted fleet of star destroyers was planned by the R&D teams of Kuat code named project Victor. The plans for were shelved for years until after the Battle of Geonosis, where the Republic ordered fleets of destroyers to fill the needs of a navy with no ships. Kuats plans for project Victor were pulled out and the Venators were first ships to be laid down as their large ground compliments and fast hyperdrives would be most needed by the Republic Navy that so starved for capitol ships.
Large flotillas of Venators were produced just weeks into the Clone Wars due to the designs being ready for production and because of Kuat Drive Yards impressive shipyards which could churn out thousands of capitol ships a month. Venator battle groups formed the Republic Navies strike battle fleets while the smaller cheaper Victory class ships would be held in defensive formations around Republic worlds due to their slower speeds and smaller fighter and ground complements. Venators served throughout the clone wars with distinction being able to take on and defeat many Confederate ships of equal tonnage. Venators were so popular with Republic fleet admirals that these vessels became the most widely produced capitol ship of the Clone Wars.
After the Republic transitioned into the First Galactic Empire, the Venator saw wide spread use in the new Imperial Navy. Over time however Kuat Drive Yards produced more and more of the larger and more powerful Imperator class destroyers. Due to changes in Imperial naval doctrine many Venators were placed into deep core naval reserves or fell into the role of carrier for many imperial strategic commands. Although the Venator no longer held the position of being the front line destroyer of the Empire but it still plays an important role as a combined role fleet element.
The Venator Star Destroyer has had a long and illustrious career in Imperial service. It has proven itself time and time again through the fires of war, and the role of peacekeeper. Few ships in service have been able to effect the fate of the galaxy the way the Venator has.
For general statistics the Venator class star destroyer is a Kuat Drive Yards design running 1155 meters in length. They are medium sized destroyers sporting an offensive armament of eight dual heavy turbolaser batteries, two dual medium turbolaser turrets, and 52 point defense laser cannons. Venators also sported 4 capitol grade torpedo tubes. For extra punch some Venators were modified with a SPHA field artillery gun mounted in the ventral hangar bay and plugged directly into the main reactor for an especially powerful ventral weapon. Venators sported a complement of 420 strike craft and numerous shuttles, transports, and drop ships as well as enough walkers and ground equipment to support a regiment of 2000 Troopers. These venerable vessels were originally fairly lean on crew with a complement of 7400 officers and enlisted ratings many being devoted to the strike wing. This is due to the quality of the clone crews and a heavy use of droids. Later Imperial ships would become far more reliant on non clone crews and a distrust of droids meant less automation causing far larger crews being required to run them at a similar combat effectiveness.
 |
| Venator hangar blast door open |
The Venators history goes back to the preclone wars era where the initial plans for a multi faceted fleet of star destroyers was planned by the R&D teams of Kuat code named project Victor. The plans for were shelved for years until after the Battle of Geonosis, where the Republic ordered fleets of destroyers to fill the needs of a navy with no ships. Kuats plans for project Victor were pulled out and the Venators were first ships to be laid down as their large ground compliments and fast hyperdrives would be most needed by the Republic Navy that so starved for capitol ships.
Large flotillas of Venators were produced just weeks into the Clone Wars due to the designs being ready for production and because of Kuat Drive Yards impressive shipyards which could churn out thousands of capitol ships a month. Venator battle groups formed the Republic Navies strike battle fleets while the smaller cheaper Victory class ships would be held in defensive formations around Republic worlds due to their slower speeds and smaller fighter and ground complements. Venators served throughout the clone wars with distinction being able to take on and defeat many Confederate ships of equal tonnage. Venators were so popular with Republic fleet admirals that these vessels became the most widely produced capitol ship of the Clone Wars.
 |
| Venator squadron traveling through Hyperspace |
After the Republic transitioned into the First Galactic Empire, the Venator saw wide spread use in the new Imperial Navy. Over time however Kuat Drive Yards produced more and more of the larger and more powerful Imperator class destroyers. Due to changes in Imperial naval doctrine many Venators were placed into deep core naval reserves or fell into the role of carrier for many imperial strategic commands. Although the Venator no longer held the position of being the front line destroyer of the Empire but it still plays an important role as a combined role fleet element.
The Venator Star Destroyer has had a long and illustrious career in Imperial service. It has proven itself time and time again through the fires of war, and the role of peacekeeper. Few ships in service have been able to effect the fate of the galaxy the way the Venator has.
Comments
Post a Comment